The court directed that all sums confiscated from Mr Hope and his co-defendant, Mr Von Badlo, be paid by way of compensation to the investors who were defrauded. In total, the FCA expects investors to receive approximately 55% (over £2.9m) of the capital sums that are owed.

The FCA (and the FSA before it) has now obtained confiscation orders exceeding £11m, and as at 12 February 2016, the FCA reported that its "collection rate" under the orders exceeded 96% of the sums due. Such a high rate stands out against the commonly low collection rates realised by other prosecutors.

The FCA's press release describes other recent successful cases, all of which relate to unlawful collective investment schemes or insider dealing.